Seat mounted food tray with vanity mirror

ABSTRACT

A food serving tray adapted particularly for use in aircraft mounted from the back of a seat on pivot arms so that it can be collapsed flush into a recess in the back of the seat. The underside of the tray has a covered vanity mirror adapted to be used when the tray is in collapsed position.

tlnitedfi States Patent 1 Robinson et al.

1 41 SEAT MOUNTED FOOD TRAY wmi VANITY MIRROR Inventors: Roger R.Robinson, Thousand Oaks; Stanley J. Hardman, Los Angeles, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: AirSpeciallties,1nc.;Venice,-Ca1i [22] Filed: Apr. 4,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 241,006

[52] US. Cl. 297/191, 297/146 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 7/62 [58] Field ofSearch 297/191, 146, 163, 185;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Nance 297/146 Kent 297/[46 XTatum McDonald Burnett McGregor Buxton 297/191 Primary Examiner-James T.McCall Attorney, Agent, or Firm1-1erzig & Walsh [57] ABSTRACT A foodserving tray adapted particularly for use in aircraft mounted from theback of a seat on pivot arms so that it can be collapsed flush into arecess in the back of the seat. The underside of the tray has a coveredvanity mirror adapted to be used when the tray is in collapsed position.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures ahrsgazz PATENTED AR 5 I974 SHEET 2 UF 2SEAT MOUNTED FOOD TRAY WITH VANITY MIRROR arms at the back of a chair orseat and, more particularly, an aircraft seat.

In a preferred form of the invention as described in detail herein, thetray is shown mounted to a seat having a back recess. The tray and pivotarms are collapsible into a position in the recess so that the tray isflush with the back of the seat. A covered vanity mirror is provided onthe underside of the serving tray. The cover is hinged so that it can beswung outwardly to form a tray or platform. The vanity mirror is alsohinged to the underside of the food serving tray.

The adaption of the invention for use with aircraft seats isparticularly important. A large number of passengers on aircraft areserved by stewardesses under relatively restricted conditions. Toeliminate the need for handling of any articles, such as food trays bythe stewardesses, is an important objective to be realized and is one ofthe objectives of this invention. The tray is very simply swung out intoposition for use. This can be done by the passenger. When it is notneeded, the tray can be moved into collapsed position completely out ofthe way. It is useful repeatedly.

Another object of the invention is to realize this capability that thetray is adjustable to its position for use by the passenger and iscompletely collapsible into an out-of-the-way position. The vanitymirror on the underside of the tray adapts the assembly for useparticularly by women passengers in providing a conveniently availablemirror with associated tray for placing cosmetics and the like. Anotherobject of the invention is to realize this capability in the assembly.

Another object is to make possible a tray assembly as described which iseconomical to fabricate, manufacture, and install and which does notrequire maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and additionaladvantages of the invention will become apparent from the detaileddescription and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred, exemplary form of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the tray assembly collapsed in the back of anaircraft seat;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of holding means for holding the tray in ahorizontal position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is perspective view showing the tray in collapsed position withthe cover for the mirror moved outwardly about its hinge and the vanitymirror swung into position for use;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the mirror coverand vanity mirror in the positions of FIG. 8;

FIG. It) is a sectional view taken along the line III-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. II is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9; andFIG. 12 is a partial view of a modified form of the invention whereinthe mirror is hinged directly to the back of the seat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings,numeral 10 designates a conventional aircraft seat having a back 12 inwhich there is provided a recess I4 having a shape as shown toaccommodate the collapsed position of the tray. The tray is designatedat 20, and its construction will be described in detail presently.Preferably, at inside corners of the tray are indentations or recesses22 and 22'. The swing arms are attached to the tray at these positions.The pivoted swing arms are designated at 24 and 24'. They are pivotallyattached to the lower part of the back of the chair at the extremitiesof recess 14.

The arms 24 have angular end portions designated at 28 and 28' which arepivotally mounted on the ends of a transverse shaft extending throughthe lower part of the seat as designated at 32 in FIG. 2.. The armextensions 28 and 28' are pivoted on the ends of this shaft. Each ofthese extension can come into engagement with a stop screw as shown at34 and 34 which holds the swing arms in the desired position of the trayin which it is horizontal as may be seen in FIG. 3 and positionedoutwardly from the back of the chair. The inside corners of tray 20 arepivotally mounted on pivot bolts extending from the extremities of thearms 24 and 24' as may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4i, and 5, one of said pivotbolts being designated at 40 in the figures.

As may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the position of recess orindentation 22 on the table 20, there is an extending cylindrical stopmember Ml. When table 20 is in horizontal position, this stop membercomes into engagement with inside surface 46 at the end of arm 24 whichholds table 20 in the horizontal position preventing it moving anyfurther in a clockwise direction. When the table collapses, this stemcan move into an arcuate groove 48 in arm 24. This construction is thesame on both sides of the tray.

FIGS. 6 through show the construction of the tray and vanity mirror inmore detail. Tray 20 itself as may be seen in FIG. 8 has a recess 50 inthe back which can receive vanity mirror 52 in a flush position in therecess. The vanity mirror is hinged as described. Numeral 54 designatesa hinged cover which can be swung out to form a platform as shown atFIG. 8 and swung in to a position covering the mirror. The cover 54 hasa grasp 56 adapted to be received in cutout 58 in the bottom of tray 20.

Tray 20 is shown in cross section in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9. At the upperpart of recess 14 is another recess 58 of less depth. Pivotally mountedtherein is a latch button 60 on a stem 62which can be rotated to engagewith an upper surface 64 of the tray 20 and to be held at the positionof an indentation 6b as shown.

In the exemplary form of the invention, the tray may be formed ofrelatively thin rigid plastic material or other material formed in aconfiguration as may be seen in FIG. 6. In the preferred form the trayis formed in two fabricated laminations bonded together as designated at7% and 72 as may be seen in FIG. I. The lower lamination or formed partprovides the recess 50 for the vanity mirror. Typically, if desired, thetop may be covered by a thin layer of other material, such as formicawith colored bindings or edge strips around the peripheral edges of thetray.

Mirror 52 may comprise a relatively stiff, thin backing sheet 74 havingthe mirror surface 76 attached to it. Member 76 is attached to thebottom of recess 50 by way of a piano hinge 80 secured to the bottom ofthe recess as shown at 82 in FIG. 6. The securement includes stiffeningstrip 84. This construction is shown in more detail in FIGS. 9 and 10.The hinge pin of the hinge is designated at 86 in FIG. 9. 7

Near the bottom of recess 50 is a small secondary recess 88 forming ashoulder as shown including a ledge 90. A mirror cover or platform ishinged to ledge 90 by way of a piano hinge 92 having a hinge pin 94. Inthe exemplary form of the invention, the cover 54 is preferably formedfrom relatively thin sheets or pieces of stiff cardboard or plastic asdesignated at 96 and 98 which may be covered with a suitable thin,colored material such as vinyl or the like. The upper piece 98 has acontinuous peripheral edge rib. The part on the front edge is designatedat 100, and the part on the rear edge is designated at 102. The leavesof the piano hinge 92 extend between parts 96 and 98 with stiffeningmembers being provided as designated at 104 and 106.

FIG. 12 shows a modified form of the invention wherein mirror 110 ishinged directly to the back of seat rather than to the underside of thetray. The mirror is hinged at 112 and is covered by the tray when it iscollapsed.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand thenature and construction of the invention and the manner in which itachieves the objects and purposes as set forth in the foregoing. It willbe understood that the tray is completely collapsible to a flushposition in the recess in the back of a chair. The mirror and its covercan be collapsed into flush position into the recess in the bottom ofthe tray and the cover can be swung out into a position to form aplatform as shown in FIG. 8 with the mirror moved outwardly about itshinge to an appropriate position for use. Although a specificconstruction of an exemplary form of the tray and mirror have been shownin detail, it should be understood that other types of construction ofthe tray and mirror may be embodied in the invention as well as thespecific types of pivotal support allowing its collapsing movement intoflush position.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred, exemplary formsof the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather thana limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, particularly adapted for use withpassenger aircraft seats, a food tray adapted to be positioned in ahorizontal position extending rearwardly from a back of a chair; and apair of swing arms having pivotal attachment to the tray, the swing armshaving pivotal attachment at the back of the lower part of the chair,the tray being pivotal about its pivotal supports and the swing armsbeing movable pivotally to position the tray in a horizontal positionoutwardly from the back of the seat and adapting the tray for movementabout its pivotal supports and swing arms about their pivots into aposition wherein the tray and the swing arms are flush against the backof the chair, the underside of the tray having a flat bottomed recess init, a hinged cover hinged to the bottom of the tray to be moved intocovering position over the recess and to be moved forwardly into ahorizontal position forming a platform.

2. An article as in claim 1, in combination with a passenger seat havinga back and flat bottomed recess in it and having a depth such that saidtray and swing arms can be moved against the bottom of the recess in aposition wherein said cover is substantially flush with the remainingback part of the chair.

3. An article as in claim 1, including a mirror pivotally attached insaid recess and adapted to be covered by said hinged cover.

4. As an article of manufacture, particularly adapted for use withpassenger aircraft seats, a food tray adapted to be positioned in ahorizontal position extending rearwardly from a back of a chair; and apair of swing arms having pivotal attachment to the tray, the swing armshaving pivotal attachment at the back of the lower part of the chair,the tray being pivotal about its pivotal supports and the swing armsbeing movable pivotally to position the tray in a horizontal positionoutwardly from the back of the seat and adapting the tray for movementabout its pivotal supports and swing arms about their pivots into aposition wherein the tray and the swing arms are flush against the backof the chair, the underside of the tray having a flat bottomed recess init, a hinged cover hinged to the bottom of the tray to be moved intocovering position over the recess and to be moved forwardly into ahorizontal position forming a platform, a mirror hinged to the bottom ofthe tray in a position such that the mirror can be swung around itshinges adapting for use, the recess being adapted to have said mirrormoved into it.

5. An article as in claim 1, in combination with a passenger seat havinga back having a fiat bottomed recess in it and having a depth such thatsaid tray and the swing arms can be moved against the bottom of therecess so as to be substantially flush with the remaining part of theback of the chair.

1. As an article of manufacture, particularly adapted for use withpassenger aircraft seats, a food tray adapted to be positioned in ahorizontal position extending rearwardly from a back of a chair; and apair of swing arms having pivotal attachment to the tray, the swing armshaving pivotal attachment at the back of the lower part of the chair,the tray being pivotal about its pivotal supports and the swing armsbeing movable pivotally to position the tray in a horizontal positionoutwardly from the back of the seat and adapting the tray for movementabout its pivotal supports and swing arms about their pivots into aposition wherein the tray and the swing arms are flush against the backof the chair, the underside of the tray having a flat bottomed recess init, a hinged cover hinged to the bottom of the tray to be moved intocovering position over the recess and to be moved forwardly into ahorizontal position forming a platform.
 2. An article as in claim 1, incombination with a passenger seat having a back and flat bottomed recessin it and having a depth such that said tray and swing arms can be movedagainst the bottom of the recess in a position wherein said cover issubstantially flush with the remaining back part of the chair.
 3. Anarticle as in claim 1, including a mirror pivotally attached in saidrecess and adapted to be covered by said hinged cover.
 4. As an articleof manufacture, particularly adapted for use with passenger aircraftseats, a food tray adapted to be positioned in a horizontal positionextending rearwardly from a back of a chair; and a pair of swing armshaving pivotal attachment to the tray, the swing arms having pivotalattachment at the back of the lower part of the chair, the tray beingpivotal about its pivotal supports and the swing arms being movabLepivotally to position the tray in a horizontal position outwardly fromthe back of the seat and adapting the tray for movement about itspivotal supports and swing arms about their pivots into a positionwherein the tray and the swing arms are flush against the back of thechair, the underside of the tray having a flat bottomed recess in it, ahinged cover hinged to the bottom of the tray to be moved into coveringposition over the recess and to be moved forwardly into a horizontalposition forming a platform, a mirror hinged to the bottom of the trayin a position such that the mirror can be swung around its hingesadapting for use, the recess being adapted to have said mirror movedinto it.
 5. An article as in claim 1, in combination with a passengerseat having a back having a flat bottomed recess in it and having adepth such that said tray and the swing arms can be moved against thebottom of the recess so as to be substantially flush with the remainingpart of the back of the chair.